Grip for cable cars



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G. B. HANSELL 8u M. S. GILL. GRIP POR CABLE GARS.

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G. B. HANSELL au M. s. GILL. GRIP POR GABLB GARS.

No. 458,574. tered Sept. 1,1891l.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE B. HANSELL AND MIDDLETON S. GILL, OF SAN FRANCISCO;

CALIFORNIA.

GRIP FOR CABLE CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,574, datedSeptember 1, 1891.

Application filed April 23, 1891. Serial No. 390,085. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that we, GEORGE B. HANSELL and MIDDLETON S. GILL, of SanFrancisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Grips for Gable Cars;and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to an improvement in grips for cable cars, theobject being to provide an improved device constructed to grip the cablewith a graduallyincreasing pressure, whereby the car is started slowlyand its speed gradually increased until it attains the speed of thecable.

lVith these ends in view oui` invention consists in the parts andcombination of parts, as will be more fully described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of agrip embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section ofsame.' Fig. 3 is a side view, and Fig. 4 a view in perspective, of thelower or movable part of the grip.

A represents a depending support adapted to be firmly secured to a carbody or truck and transmit motion from the cable to the carbody. Thissupport A, if desired, can be removably secured in place, so as toenable the grip to be removed from the cable-conduit and from the earwhen necessity demands its removal, and should preferably be secured insuch a manner as to permit it to swing laterally, for a purpose to behereinafter described. This support A terminates at its lower end in ahorizontal frame B, adapted to support the axles G, carrying thegripping-rollers D and the brake-rollers D. The gripping-rollers D arelocated on same side of the frame in a line with each other andimmediately above the lower gripping-rollers E. The axles O arejournaled in the frame B, and each carries one gripping-rollerD and onebralze-roller D', both rollers being rigidlyseeured to the axle, so thatwhen for any cause whatever the brake-roller is prevented from rotatingthe gripping-roller on the same axle therewith .is

also held against movement. This support A is preferably grooved on oneface for the reception of the sliding bar F, and the top of frame Bimmediately under the groove in standard A is open or provided with aslot for the passage of the sliding bar F. This bar F can be movedvertically by any approved devices located in the grip-car, and carriesat its lower end the frame G. The bar F is connected to frame G at oneside of the longitudinal center thereof and nearer the side carrying thegripping-wheels E, and as the frame G should have a slight lateralmovement on the bar F it follows that the greater pressure exerted onthe bar F falls directly on the gripping-rollers, and as the pressure ofthe gripping-rollers against the cable increases the frame G is tiltedand the brake rollers forced upwardly into contact with brake-shoes H,located between the upper and lower brake-rollers D E. The lowergrip-rollers E and corresponding brakerollers E are rigidly secured onthe axles C, so that one cannot revolve without the other. The rollers Dand E are grooved to receive the cable between them, and thebrake-rollers D E have, preferably, smooth flat faces.

The brake H is preferablya long bar made of metal or wood, or two shortsections secured at their inner ends to frame G, and provided near itsopposite ends with concaved sections a, against which the peripheries ofthe wheels D and E bear. This bar or section can be secured to the upperframe B or to the lower frame G; but in either instance it should be sosupported that it remains out of contact:

with the lower wheels E when the latter are in their depressed position,or, in other words, when the cable is not gripped by the grooved rollersD and E. From the above it will be seen that when the cable is grippedit can be instantly released by releasing bar F and permittin g same todescend by gravity or by forcing said bar down by mechanical devices.

To grasp the cable the frame G is elevated by simply elevating the barF. This elevation of frame G compresses the cable between the upper andlower grooved wheels, and although the wheels are still revolving thefriction between the parts is sufficient to cause the grip to moveslowly in the direction of ICG movement of the cable. By graduallyincreasing the pressure the cable becomes more firmly gripped and therollers D and E brought into contact with the brake-bar, which, when thefriction is sufficient, stops the rotation of rolle-rs D and E', andconsequently rollers D and E, thus causing the grip to move at fullspeed. The side of the grip adjacent to the grooved rollers is open.Hence by a slight lateral movement of the grip the latter can be made toclear the cable and be raised from the conduit for repairs. Again, wherethe cable is crossed by another cable running in a higher plane it isevident that by curving the slot so as to deflect the grip and releasingthe grip before the curve is reached the grip will pass the upper cablewithout contact.

It is evident that many slight changes may be made in the form andarrangement of the several parts described without departing from thespirit and scope of our invention, and hence we would have it understoodthat we do not confine ourselves to the exact construe tion herein shownand described, but reserve the right to make such slight changes andalterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a grip for cable cars, the combination, with a depending fixedsupport, a series of axles journaled therein, and a gripping-roller oneach axle, of a movable bar carrying a frame, axles journaled in saidframe, a gripping-roller and a brake-roller rigidly secured on eachaxle, and a brake adapted to engage the brake-rollers for preventing therotation of the axles, substantially as set forth.

2. In a grip for cable cars, the combination, with `a depending fixedsupport carrying grooved rollers, of a movable bar carrying a frame,gripping-rollers carried by said frame,

a brake-roller rigidly connected with one of said gripping-rollers, anda brake for engaging the brake-roller, substantially as set forth.

3. In a grip for cable cars, the combination, with a depending supportcarrying axles, and a gripping-roller and a brake-roller rigidly securedto each axle, of a vertically-movable bar carrying a frame at its lowerend, axles mounted in said frame, agripping-roller and a brake-roller oneach axle, and a brake interposed between the brake-rollers and adaptedto engage said rollers as the latter come together, substantially as setforth.

4. In a grip for cable cars, the combination, with a depending supportcarrying a frame atits lowerend, axles journaled in said frame, and agripping-roller and a brake-roller secured to each axle, of a lowerframe, a vertically-movable bar secured thereto to\one side of thecenter thereof, axles mounted in said frame, a gripping-roller and abrake-rollersecured on each axle, and a lbrake interposed between thebrake-rollers, substantially as set forth.

5. In a grip for cable cars, the combination, with a depending supporthaving a frame at the lower end thereof, axles mounted in said frame,and gripping-rollers mounted on the axles, of a lower frame carryinggripping-rollers, a vertically-movable bar secured to said lower frameto one side of the center thereof, and means for locking the grippingrollers against rotation as they approach each other during the act ofclamping the cable, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE B. HANSELL. MIDDLE'ION S. GILL.

Witnesses:

MARK LANE, C. P. JoNEs.`

